Hinge construction for baby cribs



Jan. 10, 1956 w. M. FOSTER 2,729,847

HINGE CONSTRUCTION FOR BABY CRIBS Filed Feb. l5, 1954 HINGE CONSTRUCTIONFOR BABY CRIBS Wayne M. Foster, Long Beach, Calif.

Application February 15, 1954, Serial No. 410,075

2 Claims. (Cl. 16-145) This invention relates to a hinge constructionfor baby cribs, and particularly the type of crib `disclosed in mycopending application entitled Foldable Baby Crib and filed of even dateherewith.

An object of my invention isto provide a novel hinge construction whichis held in extended position by means of a novel latch construction and,further, this latch cannot be released without a particular manipulationimpossible for a small child.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel hinge constructionin which the hinge latch is further engaged by a manually operable key,the key in turn being held in engagement with the latch by a springpressed detent.

Still another object is to provide a novel hinge construcp tion in whichthe hinge s engaged by spring pressed latch members when unfolded, thuspreventing the accidental folding of the hinge.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and theappended claims.

ln the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my hinge construction.

Figure 2 is a top plan view ofthe same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the hinge.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a modified form of hinge.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fignre n.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates ahasp-like hinge consisting of two plates 2 and 3 which are connected bythe hinge pin 4. The plates 2 and 3 are each secured to parts which areto be hingedly connected by means of the screws 5--5 and 6 6. On certainstructures, such as a baby crib, it is very desirable that the hingeshall be held in an extended or unfolded position, and that it shall notaccidently fold. To accomplish this I provide a latching mechanism forthe hinge consisting of a leaf spring 7 which is pivotally attached tothe part 8 (which may be a part of a baby crib) by the pivot pin 9. Ontheouter end of the leaf spring 7, I provide a pin 10 which projectsthrough the complementary hinged member 11, and also through the plate 2of the hinge. When the pin 10 is projecting through the part 11 and theplate 2, as shown in Figure 3, the hinge will be locked, that is, itcannot fold until the pin 10 has been retracted. The pin 10 is furtherlatched or held against movement by a sliding bolt 12 which is mountedon the plate 2. The bolt 12 slides through the guides 13 on the plate 2and in locked position extends through an appropriate slot in the end ofthe pin 10. The bolt 12 is further held against retraction, that is,held against withdrawal from the pin 10 by the spring pressed detent orbutton 14 which is mounted on a spring arm 15. The spring arm 15 isattached at 2,729,847 .Patented Jan. 1o, 1956 its outer end to the.platev 2 and the button 14 projects through a hole `16 in the plate 2,thus presenting an obstruction to the sliding movement of the-bolt 12.

To retract the bolt it is necessary to depress the button 14, then thebolt 12 may be withdrawn from engagement with the pin 10. Thereafter,the pin 10 can be withdrawn from the hole 17 and the hinge can befolded. The spring 7 permits the pin 10 to be withdrawn from the hole17, and also the spring 7 being pivoted at 9 it is possible to swing thespring upwardly or downwardly to misalign the pin 10 so that the hingecan be freely moved as desired. When the hinge has been unfolded orextended the pin 10 is inserted through the hole 17, as shown in Figure3. Thereafter the bolt 12 is pushed into the slot in the pin, thussecurely holding the pin in its latching position. The pin 10 can onlybe withdrawn by first withdrawing the bolt 12 after the button 14 hasbeen depressed. This can only be done by an adult and, therefore, asmall child cannot tamper with the hinge.

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of latching means for ahinge structure in which the hinge is still latched in open position bya spring pressed detent. The hinge 18 is secured to the adjacent parts19 and 20 which are hingedly connected. The hinge 18 is secured to theseparts by the screws 21 and 22, all of which is usual and well known. Theparts 19 and 20, which may be a part of a baby crib, rest on a base 23,as disclosed in my co-pending application filed this same day. A plate24 is tixedly secured to the base 23 and projects upwardly and over oneblade 25 of the hinge 18. The plate 24 is provided with a hole 26extending therethrough, and a spring pressed button 27 is mounted on theblade 25 and projects into the hole 26 to thus couple the hingeconstruction to the plate 24 and prevent movement of the hinge relativeto this plate or the base 23. The button 27 is mounted on a spring 28which urges the button 27 into the hole 26 whenever the parts areproperly aligned. To disengage the parts 19-20 the hinge 18 etc. fromthe base 23 and particularly the plate 24, the button 27 is pushedinwardly against the tension of the spring 28 until the button is freeof the plate 24, at which time the structure upon which the hinge 18 ismounted can be moved, and also the hinge 18 can be folded, if desired.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A hinge construction including a pair of plates, a hinge pinconnecting the plates at one end thereof, said plates being eachattached to one of adjacent members, one of said plates having a holetherein, a leaf spring secured at one end thereof to one of the adjacentmembers and adjacent the end of one of the plates, said leaf springextending the length of both of the plates and spanning the hinge pin, apin on the end of the leaf spring opposite the secured end thereof, oneof said adjacent members having a hole extending therethrough throughwhich said pin extends to enter the hole in the leaf spring, a bolt,means mounting the bolt on the plate adjacent said hole, said boltengaging the pin to hold said pin in the hole in one position of saidbolt.

2. A hinge construction including a pair of plates, a hinge pinconnecting the plates at one end thereof, said plates being eachattached to one of adjacent members, one of said plates having a holetherein, a leaf spring secured at one end thereof to one of the adjacentmembers and adjacent the end of one of the plates, said leaf springextending the length of both of the plates and spanning the hinge pin, apin on the end of the leaf spring opposite the secured end thereof, oneof said adjacent members having a hole extending therethrough throughwhich said pin extends to enter the hole in the leaf spring,

a "bolt, means 'mounting the'bolt on theoplate adjacent said hol-e, said-bolt engaging the pin -to 1hold 'said pin rin the hole in one positionof said bolt, a spring pressed detent, means mounting the spring presseddetent on the plate 'haxng the ibo-1e therein, 'se'-sping spxessetiemengaging l'the bnlt lto y-relea'sa'b'ly hold ythe bolt in engage mentwith 'Sid'pi'n.

nl References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Refe- May 15, 1917 Bernardi ..-'Mar. 4, 1952 Hurlin Dec. 16, Y1952Westerfors Mar. 2, 1954

